We need to talk.

Alright, at first I didn't know what to tell you people. We're all lazy, inactive, unproductive. As it is right now and if we keep going this direction. It's going to be a fail, this site is going to die. Do you guys really want that? We ALL need to step up our game. Not individually, but as one. How are we going to fix this? If you guys want shit done, you're going to have to contribute to it yourselves. I'm tired of getting PM's : When's the vault coming up? When are you doing this? Can you do this? Can you do that? Change my name color? Make me this? Honestly, do not PM us about it especially if you haven't done anything to help us. Not to long ago YB offered to help and needed help, who volunteered? NO one. I could have sworn back when the Vault was mentioned, it was used as an excuse for inactivity. Now that there's a way to get it back no one want's to help. It's not how it works. So again, things around here have to change. I understand we all have our RL things to deal with, but come on. I'm out 7/10 of the time and post comments and criticism for you guys through a phone. Blues and Afro also post through a phone half the time. Now, I know the site has been dead for the past few weeks. Especially for you lurkers who I see everyday come on. It pretty much sums up, this is a boring place and it isn't what it used to be. I cannot guarantee for the site to be what it used to be, but if we really try we can be better than what we were. A RACE OF SUPER SAYIA- No seriously, we need to make this place more interesting as a community. I do thank the lot of you that stay with us and try your best to do what you can and you honestly have my best regards and love, but here are some suggestions I got from MCX. Our old and great friend.

-Sprite Comics. - Sprite comics were the main reason characters were sheeted. The comic now and days suck, unfinished or don't go beyond issue 3. We need more, I know there's a lot of you with interesting stories in your mind. From this day forward, I will promote Sprite comics. Shit even you new people with no logic can give it a shot, if you try hard enough you'll make a successful comic. Success is achieved after you experience failure.

-Original Sprites - This goes more towards us advanced spriters. Now and days new guys try so hard to keep up with us and jump straight for 3-4 toning. Thus, they never getting better and more shittier sprites spawn. Start going back in time bros, hell even simply edit the original sprites. The new guys need a chance to improve. That specific guy Eryck, his sprite sheet really inspired me because it had something newer sprites don't. I don't know what it is about the original, but I honestly prefer it over the new ones. Just the feel of it, brings satisfaction. In the long run the newer people wouldn't kill themselves for comments. It's irritating when you're a new guy and you post your work only to get like 1 comment. I don't get why you would waste your time looking into the topic if you weren't going to give the guy advice.

-Sheets - We need sheets. I'm the type of guy who doesn't like to post what I do, in fact I secretly finished up a Perfect Cell sheet so I am also to blame, but we need more sheets. Sheets motivate people to sprite more and to get better, they motivate others to start a comic with them or animate. I mean sure you're going to deal with 1 or 2 morons who come to take the sheet and run away like faggots but the majority of the community would respect your work and produce something nice to make you as a spriter feel happy with your work.

Blues Light wrote:

here's stuff going on, but none of it involves you and you don't really recognize people anymore. We used to have a sense of community, stronger than I've ever seen on any site before. I mean I was on MSN all day every day, talking to like seven people at once, spriting and playing an RPG or 2 and it was all a communal project. Now it's like the soul is gone out of that. I know a good part of it is that I'm just older, but I only joined late into Aceboard, I wasn't an original original vet. Alot of those people are still around. Granted, people aren't going to sprite forever, and that's ok, but why are all our new members just fucking retarded? Is it because I'm judging them against NS Kage, Alex, MCX, Sneshy, Ricky, Sam, and all the rest of them? I really don't know. You all know I've tried everything I can think of for Vortex. Yes, I can be a fucking asshole to people, I'll be the first to admit that, but I think I've done a fairly good job, but I can't help but feel that Vortex died under my watch, and I can't put my finger on why.

MasterChefX wrote:

The reason I left was mostly boredomThe forum has great spriters, both experienced and inexperienced, but no one commits to anything.Before I left, I would see hundreds of both shitty and awesome oneshot spritesThey never got a full sprite sheet.Holding contests and offering rewards is superficial to begin with.The rewards were hardly anything worth the effort for.And it only bolsters activity for about a dayMostly of people oogling the winner's sprite. (cough afro xD )It does little to actually promote activity in spritingHonestly, I think it's sprite comics where you need to be focusing.There needs to be a lot more people who are commited to making comics like The Red Power Legacy, Double Devotion, The Great Warriors, Heroes Live On, etc.People want their characters seen and recognized.That's my opinion anyways. I sure as hell would love to see my characters even cameo something like RPLOr be featured in an animation.It's one of the largest reasons I sprited for so long, and why I constantly updated my sheets.MasterChefX 2125 saysIt becomes a beauty pagaentCompetition is good, but is redundant when nothing is produced from it.I've literally seen over 10 revamps of Ran'dumThe focus needs to shift from who can out-do the other and add as much gloss to their character, and produce something that can be used.For that to happen, I think sprite comics are a definite outlet for that.

Afrolicious wrote:

For the love of Bejesus, it's like saying the something needs work but you can't put your finger on it. The glade hope of improvement but the lack of direction. It's like your girlfriend giving you a lap dance when you were promised sex, getting $10 when you actually won $20. It sort of sets us up for failure. >.>

Blues_Light wrote:

Is it sad that I've enjoyed Vortex more tonight talking about all this crap than I have in months? We need to get back to making stuff for each other than whatever is going on now. I remember people asking me "Is that Kale sheet done? I need it for _______!"

Does that happen anymore? I don't see it really. No one makes anything.

If you want to put your input and suggestions on how to improve and make us a much better community, go for it.

We need to wake up, Don't rely on us Admins to go baby you and throw some Viagra your way to wake up. If we don't act now it's bye bye Vortex.

Last edited by Mistah_Jayden on Mon Apr 16, 2012 11:08 pm; edited 1 time in total

What happened to the quotes? I am disappoint. I would produce more stuff but school, internship, and the game most of you guys know about takes up a chunk of my time, and I still make time for you guys. If I could make a cake a share with all you guys, I would but I need to know you would take a slice. Was that a good metaphor? Eh. I guess.

I firmly agree. I'm working on some new styled sheets but I also wanna clean up the older ones but keep the classic LSW vibe that they've always had. Why not? Classic LSW is what brought us all here at one point or another, right?

We also need more comics that are lasting and actually have an enthralling story that you just can't wait to read and inspire you to make your own. I remember when Chibi was making Red Power Legacy, I was SO stoked when a new issue came out. I read it more faithfully than anything I keep up with now. We need that fervor and love for our work again. I really think that's a problem we have now: we make things that are technically well sprited and show off our skill, but we don't love what we make anymore. I remember loving LSW and DBZ Vortex and wanting to sheet Kale for the first time, not so I could show it off, but because other people wanted to use him for comics and animations and I was so thrilled to help out other members with their projects and that want to help fueled me.

JUST KIDDING. Your long rant about how we're all lazy and useless really has inspired me. I've come across a spritingslump in the past month, and I DON'T LIKE IT. Even if I don't care for the work I make, I'll still try to post it. That, and I'll try to sheet more things and ACTUALLY stick to it. I was planning on spriting my newest custom, even got AB to vamp it for me to give me some kind of creative push. You shall be seeing more from me, Capt. Jayden. I swear it.

I actually was secretly planning a sprite project. And this post has truly inspired me Jayden. It's a real wake-up call and I have been quite a blame for this as well. I wish I could say more, except there's really not much to say.

We need to wake up, Don't rely on us Admins to go baby you and throw some Viagra your way to wake up. If we don't act now it's bye bye Vortex.

Art school :3

Would be awesome if you could advertise moar around the site

Whatcha need to advertise for? You can advertise for anything that's on Vortex, it's just plugging off-site things that we go at.

It's hidden down there in that section no one looks at. I suggest a news stream, perhaps controlled by the editors group. They have more and active members and it would also allow Admins to concentrate on other things. Especially since the current news bulletin hasn't been updated since march sometime.

If this is not possible, well...Iono. I'd just like the site to be controlled a lot more by members and Admins/Mods there to keep law. Now, if this is presently possible, it is because the site is too lazy to do anything -_-.

You mean the main page? It's something we can look into and I've honestly forgotten about. I can't promise it'll be 100% member controlled because, until we had the webhost issues a while back, the webhost was on a different server that AB was paying for and he had the login info for it and it technically wasn't attached to the forum except for his crazy system of re-links that never made any sense to me.

But I will look into it and see what I can do to make it more easily up-datable, since it sits there dormant.

You mean the main page? It's something we can look into and I've honestly forgotten about. I can't promise it'll be 100% member controlled because, until we had the webhost issues a while back, the webhost was on a different server that AB was paying for and he had the login info for it and it technically wasn't attached to the forum except for his crazy system of re-links that never made any sense to me.

But I will look into it and see what I can do to make it more easily up-datable, since it sits there dormant.

You mean the main page? It's something we can look into and I've honestly forgotten about. I can't promise it'll be 100% member controlled because, until we had the webhost issues a while back, the webhost was on a different server that AB was paying for and he had the login info for it and it technically wasn't attached to the forum except for his crazy system of re-links that never made any sense to me.

But I will look into it and see what I can do to make it more easily up-datable, since it sits there dormant.

Wait, AB paid for us to use his site? What a guy...

If things were more active around here, I would too. Forums that require payment have ALOT more benefits and control. He was awesome, but he left at a very bad time. If he would have hosted his site with us, we would have been a much better community.

Not to sound like an ass, but am I the only person who DOESN'T get motivated by this?I'm not saying people shouldn't do these things to boost activity, it's just me personally not feeling any sort of drive to improve or produce anything. There's only so many times I can make a sprite of Gale before I get sick of doing so and making up random characters just for the sake of activity seems.....bleh.I have projects planned but I refuse to do the main one as a comic, it's far too much work that I don't feel is necessary.Sheets....won't happen, ever, sorry guys.

Not to sound like an ass, but am I the only person who DOESN'T get motivated by this?I'm not saying people shouldn't do these things to boost activity, it's just me personally not feeling any sort of drive to improve or produce anything. There's only so many times I can make a sprite of Gale before I get sick of doing so and making up random characters just for the sake of activity seems.....bleh.I have projects planned but I refuse to do the main one as a comic, it's far too much work that I don't feel is necessary.Sheets....won't happen, ever, sorry guys.

Wow, someone's a negative Nancy.... If you think that creating customs and vamping old ones is "bleh", then why are you even here? Not trying to be mean, but since you don't care to make new customs, sheets, or comics, then what purpose is there to stay here?

Not to sound like an ass, but am I the only person who DOESN'T get motivated by this?I'm not saying people shouldn't do these things to boost activity, it's just me personally not feeling any sort of drive to improve or produce anything. There's only so many times I can make a sprite of Gale before I get sick of doing so and making up random characters just for the sake of activity seems.....bleh.I have projects planned but I refuse to do the main one as a comic, it's far too much work that I don't feel is necessary.Sheets....won't happen, ever, sorry guys.

Wow, someone's a negative Nancy.... If you think that creating customs and vamping old ones is "bleh", then why are you even here? Not trying to be mean, but since you don't care to make new customs, sheets, or comics, then what purpose is there to stay here?

Not to sound like an ass, but am I the only person who DOESN'T get motivated by this?I'm not saying people shouldn't do these things to boost activity, it's just me personally not feeling any sort of drive to improve or produce anything. There's only so many times I can make a sprite of Gale before I get sick of doing so and making up random characters just for the sake of activity seems.....bleh.I have projects planned but I refuse to do the main one as a comic, it's far too much work that I don't feel is necessary.Sheets....won't happen, ever, sorry guys.

Wow, someone's a negative Nancy.... If you think that creating customs and vamping old ones is "bleh", then why are you even here? Not trying to be mean, but since you don't care to make new customs, sheets, or comics, then what purpose is there to stay here?

Not to sound like an ass, but am I the only person who DOESN'T get motivated by this?I'm not saying people shouldn't do these things to boost activity, it's just me personally not feeling any sort of drive to improve or produce anything. There's only so many times I can make a sprite of Gale before I get sick of doing so and making up random characters just for the sake of activity seems.....bleh.I have projects planned but I refuse to do the main one as a comic, it's far too much work that I don't feel is necessary.Sheets....won't happen, ever, sorry guys.

Wow, someone's a negative Nancy.... If you think that creating customs and vamping old ones is "bleh", then why are you even here? Not trying to be mean, but since you don't care to make new customs, sheets, or comics, then what purpose is there to stay here?

'Cause he loves us. (I hope)

It's because it's impossible to leave.

I have had plenty of good friends leave this site so that is partly wrong. Still I have been having the same problem as Gale except with Quemon. Quemon wheres the same outfit and I have sprited him 100 times. It does get kinda boring over time. I have been trying to do something but I have almost lost all interest. Infact I have went around websites looking for any kind of RPG that is decent. Though I keep running into the same two problems. 1 the RPGs is crap (Or some version of Star Trek). 2 some RPGs don't accept evil characters (Which I don't understand why myself).

Still because of which I am not sure what to do. Plus I cant really do a sheet either because of which. Sheets take time and patients which I have neither. So there is many problems I have been having. I have wanted to sheet Quemon but once I do I get bored.

Though I disagree with Gale by saying trying to promote the site is something that would help but it is not the main issue. The problem isn't getting them on. The problem is that they get bored and leave and or get ran away basically.

Honestly, if he thought that way then he could leave. He was a very negative guy >.>If he didn't like sprites, at least he could have drawn. Not even hard to stick around just to talk to people and post crits, but nooo he was very anti-social too.Remember people like Yahn, and Bob who barely sprited but gave the best criticism in anything you did. You don't NEED to sprite to be a part of Vortex. Vortex welcomes anyone. I don't care what kind of DBZ fan are you or if you're here to talk controversies about the show, whatever it is. Respect your community and we'll respect you and love you back where ever you post. He seemed to fail to see the main point of this.The most of us here left are spriters, hell I guarentee after this half of you are still gonna do shit, but then this doesn't apply to you. Continue being the lazy faggot stalker, that wastes 5-10 minutes daily snooping around. It's like having rats around. This topic is for people that give a crap about their community. If more artist were to come here and show off their drawings then hell, that'd be fantastic but again the majority of us at the moment are spriters.The RPG I don't know about. The last one Lorenzo had, was shut down due to him feeling disrespected by the community that did role play. You guys have to develop a good one among yourselves.

That's why I said if you want something build it up. Community wise it needs to be made.I'm not gonna sit here and start doing everything for people that demand and want nothing back.Sorry, it's just something I read highly irritated me.

Maybe we need some community projects? seen a few things in my day (mostly on pokemon forums, yeah...) where the community had a project, anyone was welcome to throw in ideas, make drawings, sprites, plot ideas and all that jazz.

If you want an example.. a common one was a fakedex or the fangame, people would draw or write stories to use, draw fakemon, sprite em, whatever they could.

We could do things like the comics, or dbz what if comics (they are always fun) or something completely not even dbz related, something with customs who arent even saiyans!

I've seen games crop up a few times but never seen any real outcomes. I've seen some good animations here aswell im sure if sheets were provided we could do something :S

I honestly don't remember the last thing I did so this is probably a big part my fault, as well. I may not have been an actual... person who does shit, but I was, at several points, the most active person on the forum. I'm a bad example to the younger kids who think being a lazy fuck will get you somewhere here. But, I earned the respect I ha(ve/d?). I've been here for over five full years and since the beginning.

My activity has been kind of sporadic since the beginning; I'm a long-time sufferer of serious depression, as most of you know. But lately, my health's taken a turn for the worst. Bronchitis for a while, diagnosed with asthma and super allergies of death, fibromyalgia: I have a hard time even going to school. I work now, almost full time, on top of school. I can run a fucking pharmacy from my desk, for Christ's sake.

When I am on the Internet, I'm usually just on Facebook. I quit going to The Digital Dive (the Digimon forum I frequented) almost a year before I lost my drive for this place. It's just not fun anymore. Maybe it's the depression, maybe it's the community. I do check the site every day, I lurk. Customs, Dragon Ball Universe, General Chat, and General Effects. I check those every day.

We used to have fun and do crazy shit and have random conversations about fun things in general chat. People used to post up creative and original customs and we'd give real feedback and enjoy the process. People actually used to make DBZ characters, believe it or not. People used to do other shit, too. I like General Effects. Who was the guy who was giving out drawings a while back? You know how my memory is. That guy was awesome.

Josh left, Ethan turned into a faggot, Sam left, Jawad left, Alex disappeared, other Alex turned into a faggot, Steve left; all my friends fucking left. Or turned into fags. I talk to Ben all the time. We've stayed bros. Hell, we play TOR together. Zack I'm still in sort-of touch with, and he's stayed boss. The community just isn't what it used to be. I'm sorry for my part in it's decline, but it's just not a lot to enjoy, even when I have the time and energy.

I'm going to go take some medication and lay back down, fucking Fibromyalgia is kicking my ass.

I honestly don't remember the last thing I did so this is probably a big part my fault, as well. I may not have been an actual... person who does shit, but I was, at several points, the most active person on the forum. I'm a bad example to the younger kids who think being a lazy fuck will get you somewhere here. But, I earned the respect I ha(ve/d?). I've been here for over five full years and since the beginning.

My activity has been kind of sporadic since the beginning; I'm a long-time sufferer of serious depression, as most of you know. But lately, my health's taken a turn for the worst. Bronchitis for a while, diagnosed with asthma and super allergies of death, fibromyalgia: I have a hard time even going to school. I work now, almost full time, on top of school. I can run a fucking pharmacy from my desk, for Christ's sake.

When I am on the Internet, I'm usually just on Facebook. I quit going to The Digital Dive (the Digimon forum I frequented) almost a year before I lost my drive for this place. It's just not fun anymore. Maybe it's the depression, maybe it's the community. I do check the site every day, I lurk. Customs, Dragon Ball Universe, General Chat, and General Effects. I check those every day.

We used to have fun and do crazy shit and have random conversations about fun things in general chat. People used to post up creative and original customs and we'd give real feedback and enjoy the process. People actually used to make DBZ characters, believe it or not. People used to do other shit, too. I like General Effects. Who was the guy who was giving out drawings a while back? You know how my memory is. That guy was awesome.

Josh left, Ethan turned into a faggot, Sam left, Jawad left, Alex disappeared, other Alex turned into a faggot, Steve left; all my friends fucking left. Or turned into fags. I talk to Ben all the time. We've stayed bros. Hell, we play TOR together. Zack I'm still in sort-of touch with, and he's stayed boss. The community just isn't what it used to be. I'm sorry for my part in it's decline, but it's just not a lot to enjoy, even when I have the time and energy.

I'm going to go take some medication and lay back down, fucking Fibromyalgia is kicking my ass.

I honestly don't remember the last thing I did so this is probably a big part my fault, as well. I may not have been an actual... person who does shit, but I was, at several points, the most active person on the forum. I'm a bad example to the younger kids who think being a lazy fuck will get you somewhere here. But, I earned the respect I ha(ve/d?). I've been here for over five full years and since the beginning.

My activity has been kind of sporadic since the beginning; I'm a long-time sufferer of serious depression, as most of you know. But lately, my health's taken a turn for the worst. Bronchitis for a while, diagnosed with asthma and super allergies of death, fibromyalgia: I have a hard time even going to school. I work now, almost full time, on top of school. I can run a fucking pharmacy from my desk, for Christ's sake.

When I am on the Internet, I'm usually just on Facebook. I quit going to The Digital Dive (the Digimon forum I frequented) almost a year before I lost my drive for this place. It's just not fun anymore. Maybe it's the depression, maybe it's the community. I do check the site every day, I lurk. Customs, Dragon Ball Universe, General Chat, and General Effects. I check those every day.

We used to have fun and do crazy shit and have random conversations about fun things in general chat. People used to post up creative and original customs and we'd give real feedback and enjoy the process. People actually used to make DBZ characters, believe it or not. People used to do other shit, too. I like General Effects. Who was the guy who was giving out drawings a while back? You know how my memory is. That guy was awesome.

Josh left, Ethan turned into a faggot, Sam left, Jawad left, Alex disappeared, other Alex turned into a faggot, Steve left; all my friends fucking left. Or turned into fags. I talk to Ben all the time. We've stayed bros. Hell, we play TOR together. Zack I'm still in sort-of touch with, and he's stayed boss. The community just isn't what it used to be. I'm sorry for my part in it's decline, but it's just not a lot to enjoy, even when I have the time and energy.

I'm going to go take some medication and lay back down, fucking Fibromyalgia is kicking my ass.

I honestly don't remember the last thing I did so this is probably a big part my fault, as well. I may not have been an actual... person who does shit, but I was, at several points, the most active person on the forum. I'm a bad example to the younger kids who think being a lazy fuck will get you somewhere here. But, I earned the respect I ha(ve/d?). I've been here for over five full years and since the beginning.

My activity has been kind of sporadic since the beginning; I'm a long-time sufferer of serious depression, as most of you know. But lately, my health's taken a turn for the worst. Bronchitis for a while, diagnosed with asthma and super allergies of death, fibromyalgia: I have a hard time even going to school. I work now, almost full time, on top of school. I can run a fucking pharmacy from my desk, for Christ's sake.

When I am on the Internet, I'm usually just on Facebook. I quit going to The Digital Dive (the Digimon forum I frequented) almost a year before I lost my drive for this place. It's just not fun anymore. Maybe it's the depression, maybe it's the community. I do check the site every day, I lurk. Customs, Dragon Ball Universe, General Chat, and General Effects. I check those every day.

We used to have fun and do crazy shit and have random conversations about fun things in general chat. People used to post up creative and original customs and we'd give real feedback and enjoy the process. People actually used to make DBZ characters, believe it or not. People used to do other shit, too. I like General Effects. Who was the guy who was giving out drawings a while back? You know how my memory is. That guy was awesome.

Josh left, Ethan turned into a faggot, Sam left, Jawad left, Alex disappeared, other Alex turned into a faggot, Steve left; all my friends fucking left. Or turned into fags. I talk to Ben all the time. We've stayed bros. Hell, we play TOR together. Zack I'm still in sort-of touch with, and he's stayed boss. The community just isn't what it used to be. I'm sorry for my part in it's decline, but it's just not a lot to enjoy, even when I have the time and energy.

I'm going to go take some medication and lay back down, fucking Fibromyalgia is kicking my ass.

I honestly don't remember the last thing I did so this is probably a big part my fault, as well. I may not have been an actual... person who does shit, but I was, at several points, the most active person on the forum. I'm a bad example to the younger kids who think being a lazy fuck will get you somewhere here. But, I earned the respect I ha(ve/d?). I've been here for over five full years and since the beginning.

My activity has been kind of sporadic since the beginning; I'm a long-time sufferer of serious depression, as most of you know. But lately, my health's taken a turn for the worst. Bronchitis for a while, diagnosed with asthma and super allergies of death, fibromyalgia: I have a hard time even going to school. I work now, almost full time, on top of school. I can run a fucking pharmacy from my desk, for Christ's sake.

When I am on the Internet, I'm usually just on Facebook. I quit going to The Digital Dive (the Digimon forum I frequented) almost a year before I lost my drive for this place. It's just not fun anymore. Maybe it's the depression, maybe it's the community. I do check the site every day, I lurk. Customs, Dragon Ball Universe, General Chat, and General Effects. I check those every day.

We used to have fun and do crazy shit and have random conversations about fun things in general chat. People used to post up creative and original customs and we'd give real feedback and enjoy the process. People actually used to make DBZ characters, believe it or not. People used to do other shit, too. I like General Effects. Who was the guy who was giving out drawings a while back? You know how my memory is. That guy was awesome.

Josh left, Ethan turned into a faggot, Sam left, Jawad left, Alex disappeared, other Alex turned into a faggot, Steve left; all my friends fucking left. Or turned into fags. I talk to Ben all the time. We've stayed bros. Hell, we play TOR together. Zack I'm still in sort-of touch with, and he's stayed boss. The community just isn't what it used to be. I'm sorry for my part in it's decline, but it's just not a lot to enjoy, even when I have the time and energy.

I'm going to go take some medication and lay back down, fucking Fibromyalgia is kicking my ass.

I could take care of the banner anytime, just name it.I know my way around in PS, so if anything is ever needed, ask me.

I tried doing buttons once or twice, ok I received crit and praise, but none really(more admins) asked for better ones to be replaced or just considered, so I figured they didn't need any, but now if you say you need help, then go ahead I'm an open book.

I honestly don't remember the last thing I did so this is probably a big part my fault, as well. I may not have been an actual... person who does shit, but I was, at several points, the most active person on the forum. I'm a bad example to the younger kids who think being a lazy fuck will get you somewhere here. But, I earned the respect I ha(ve/d?). I've been here for over five full years and since the beginning.

My activity has been kind of sporadic since the beginning; I'm a long-time sufferer of serious depression, as most of you know. But lately, my health's taken a turn for the worst. Bronchitis for a while, diagnosed with asthma and super allergies of death, fibromyalgia: I have a hard time even going to school. I work now, almost full time, on top of school. I can run a fucking pharmacy from my desk, for Christ's sake.

When I am on the Internet, I'm usually just on Facebook. I quit going to The Digital Dive (the Digimon forum I frequented) almost a year before I lost my drive for this place. It's just not fun anymore. Maybe it's the depression, maybe it's the community. I do check the site every day, I lurk. Customs, Dragon Ball Universe, General Chat, and General Effects. I check those every day.

We used to have fun and do crazy shit and have random conversations about fun things in general chat. People used to post up creative and original customs and we'd give real feedback and enjoy the process. People actually used to make DBZ characters, believe it or not. People used to do other shit, too. I like General Effects. Who was the guy who was giving out drawings a while back? You know how my memory is. That guy was awesome.

Josh left, Ethan turned into a faggot, Sam left, Jawad left, Alex disappeared, other Alex turned into a faggot, Steve left; all my friends fucking left. Or turned into fags. I talk to Ben all the time. We've stayed bros. Hell, we play TOR together. Zack I'm still in sort-of touch with, and he's stayed boss. The community just isn't what it used to be. I'm sorry for my part in it's decline, but it's just not a lot to enjoy, even when I have the time and energy.

I'm going to go take some medication and lay back down, fucking Fibromyalgia is kicking my ass.

Yeah, Vortex will never be like it was in your hay day. But it won't get better by keeping stuck in the past when you loved it. We need to encourage new people, not hate on them for being so. I'm a bit hypocritical with that last part.

This whole attitude towards new members is ridiculous. Look, we were all new once too, even I was. Hell, go to Neoseeker's LSW forum and look for early posts by me, I'm not joking. This behavior that we should treat every new member like they're shit needs to stop. I miss the old days too, but that's why they're called old days. They're old, they're done, and they're gone. We can't all go back to 2006 - 2007 and relieve the Golden Years of this site. I for one am tired of trying to relive those days. We shouldn't be trying to relive those days, but create a new Golden Age right now. But we can't do that if we keep blowing off every newcomer like they're a plague, a blight on this forum. Stop thinking about what was, and start thinking about what can be, and do it.

However, this isn't just a one-sided issue. There is a reason why some of the veterans are generally biased and prejudiced against new members. The self-conscious behavior, wondering whether the vets hates you, stating stuff like, "I'm just going to leave since everyone hates me," plays a large part in this behavior by many of the vets. No one likes to listen to someone complain or whine about how they're hated or think they're hated. This can be understood however, for the reasons I've already stated. It doesn't however, change the fact of the matter. Rather than just give up and leave, ignore the comments made by some of the veterans (including those a part of the moderation staff, for they are the ones that should by definition know better). When you push through, and as you progress whether be spriting or even vocabulary, people will start to respect you. That's how it's been with every single veteran today, regardless of the circumstances.

Just my thoughts anyways. I had a few more things I wanted to add in, but forgot some of them midway through typing. I might amend this post later.

Onis wrote:

Part of the problem is that everyone's wearing these:

Spoiler:

Yeah, Vortex will never be like it was in your hay day. But it won't get better by keeping stuck in the past when you loved it. We need to encourage new people, not hate on them for being so. I'm a bit hypocritical with that last part.

LOLOL Kris.I honestly don't care about the old days, (I wasn't even there to begin with XD, maybe like 2009 is when I joined.). It wasn't the fact that it was the old days it was more the members. We were all noobs so we respected one another and all progressed in pretty every way together. Now no one even comments on the new guys sprites and they end up not coming back. I don't know what makes some people believe because you're a vet you're this gifted dude with benefits. I don't care what you are, I'll treat you just like any other person.

The old members are gone so everyone else wants to leave with them, if so go for it I can care less. No one is giving the new member chances to redeem themselves for them to fit in the community. I see so many damn vets lurking like roaches, only commenting when they see another vet do something and then back into the roach house they go. In all honestly, it makes me respect you less. Sometimes, I feel like banning you people >.>.

Sakagami, and/or the rest of the forum that feels they want to do something. Go for it, You do not need my approval to make a banner or things for the forum. Suggest your ideas and post your work and let the forum criticism/or praise you for what you have done, if all goes well then you'll be seeing your work where you originally intended it to be. So if you want to make a banner go ahead and make it. Post it so we can all see and help you out.

Another thing, maybe once summer starts we'll pick up greatly. Most of us are busy at the moment and it's hard to do things as fast as they should be but, even then I'll try to get some things done before my time is completely free. We can all talk about how productive we want to be but if we just sit here to talk shit we aren't going anywhere. Oh, and this was always a problem from Exco Vortex, people post work to expect feedback/praise/crits. You know how much it sucks when you post something and you have nearly 600 views and only like 2 posts from your friends? Come on, if you honestly waste your time to look into the topic at least give the guy a compliment or help him improve. Noob or not.

It's why a guy like Afro is respected greatly compared to other people. Sure, he's an awesome spriter but it's not where most of his respect comes from. He's nice to all Vets/Noobs alike, the new guys begin to respect/praise him and eventually idolize him. In other words, he doesn't discriminate. I had to use you as an example tyronasaurus, . Perfect Example indeed.

We used to have fun and do crazy shit and have random conversations about fun things in general chat. People used to post up creative and original customs and we'd give real feedback and enjoy the process. People actually used to make DBZ characters, believe it or not. People used to do other shit, too. I like General Effects. Who was the guy who was giving out drawings a while back? You know how my memory is. That guy was awesome.

It's why a guy like Afro is respected greatly compared to other people. Sure, he's an awesome spriter but it's not where most of his respect comes from. He's nice to all Vets/Noobs alike, the new guys begin to respect/praise him and eventually idolize him. In other words, he doesn't discriminate. I had to use you as an example tyronasaurus, . Perfect Example indeed.

D'aww.

He is right though. Some people only comment when it's someone they know and can give a rat's ass about anyone else. But it's okay, I still love you dumb little skank muffins. :3

Hey guys, can we have something more.. challenging for the monthly sprite challenge, making a one shot or a few sprites then waiting a month for another contest is boring and not very motivating to be involved.